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Hi guys !! Have a 02 SD 250 with 5.4L ... Gauges stopped working the other day. Checked all the fuses and they look good. Checked battery voltage.. is at 12.27 static... 11.99 when running. Guess from the other posts I have read on here could be the altenator. What is a battery charge relay and where is it located ??? could it be bad instead ??? what do you guys think ???
You only have a battery charge relay if you have the aux battery option. I would open the underhood fuse box, and check some fuses. On the later models they sometimes put a 25 or so amp fuse for the regulator circuit, and a very large mega fuse for the alternator output.
If they look good, I would take the alternator off, and let the store put it on their machine and check it.
Thanks Dave. I'll look for those and check them... Just thought I would check with you guys before buying a 250.00 altenator and have a 12.00 relay bad instead. I'll keep you posted................
For a high dollar alternator like that, you might want to check around your area and see if there are any shops that specialize in rebuilding starters and alternators. I have a couple in my area, and though they can't compete with the prices of the common cheap alternators, they might save you some money on a high dollar one like that.
replaced altenator today... no luck. charged battery before reinstalling new parts . it was at 13.0 static and after starting the truck it went down to 12.13 while running. still no gauges working. all the lights and turn signal indicators in the cluster are working. PCM maybe ????
With the engine off, put your neg meter lead on the battery. Probe the yellow/white wire, you should have battery voltage there. Then probe the orange/lightblue wire, it should also have battery voltage.
Then probe the lightgreen/red wire. It should have voltage when the key is in run(engine can be off). If it doesn't, check fuse #45, 10 amp in the underdash fuse box.
That was it...thanks Dave. # 45 was blown. someone must have had trouble with it before because there was a 15 amp fuse in it too. I replaced it with a 10 amp and everything works fine now. There is an aftermarket remote start setup in it. I think I will look at all the connections with it and see if there might be a short potential someplace in there. Will carry extra fuses too !!!